San Francisco leads L.A. in scrappy composting race

Jorge Santiesteban estimates that food scraps constitute roughly 15% to 25% of what goes into black garbage bins in Los Angeles. The solid resources manager for the city has been struck by the seasonal changes in how much food we throw away ever since 1997, when a week after Thanksgiving, he had a garbage truck empty its contents for him. Santiesteban picked through the trash, putting like objects with like, until a clear picture emerged. This is what is known in recycling circles as a "waste characterization."

By Emily Green

November 7, 2009